Borrowed Wisdom

What is your purpose in life — and how do you actually find it?In this episode of Ten Mentors, Dan breaks down Principle 2 from 15 Principles to Master the Art of Living: Find your obsession and hold it tight.This is a practical, grounded conversation about passion, calling, and how purpose often shows up through obsession, hobbies, pain, or unfairness you cannot ignore.We explore:What purpose really feels like (and why it becomes an obsession)How Quiva, founder of Ten Mentors, discovered her mission to close the mentoring gap in workplacesWhy you can find your purpose at any age (Julia Child, J.K. Rowling, Jeff Bezos)Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and why stability comes before self-actualisationHow hobbies can turn into lifelong work (Lewis Hamilton, Mr Beast)How purpose can be forged through suffering and service (Danielle Walker, Vicky Phelan)Why purpose doesn’t need to be grand — parenting, teaching, nursing, leading and caring are powerful callings tooIf you’ve ever asked “What am I meant to do with my life?”, this episode will help you reflect on what keeps pulling you back — and what you may already be here for.Borrow what helps and leave the rest.Welcome back to Ten Mentors.

A mind that won’t switch off can make a normal life feel heavy. In this episode of Ten Mentors, Dan shares why he read Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Start Living—and the six practical lessons that changed how he handles stress in real life: defining the worst-case scenario, sealing the day, putting a stop-loss on spirals (especially about people), letting the past stay in the past, using probability instead of panic, and closing the loops that keep anxiety alive. Along the way, Dan connects Carnegie’s tools to thinkers like Eckhart Tolle, the Stoics, Buddhism, Nietzsche, and Aristotle—different language, same message: stop feeding worry with your life.

This week on Ten Mentors, Dan shares four lessons that hit hard in real life.First: we’re living through a “we” crisis. Trains full of silence. Dinners with phones on the table. Couples side-by-side but miles apart. This is not about blaming anyone, it is about noticing the default and choosing something better. A simple restore: put the phone away, not face down, away. One pint. One dinner. One night. Full attention back.Second: nobody cares about your first podcast, your first book, or your early drafts, and that is freedom. Anonymity gives you room to experiment, be imperfect, and build momentum without performing.Third: focus is a finite resource. If you chase money, fame, and status, you drift. Excellence is the input. The rewards are the outcome. Protect your attention from drama, comparison, and people who drain your energy.And finally: balance is not evenly distributed. On the way up, imbalance is often the price. Different paths, different constraints, different seasons. The key question is not “Do I have balance?” It is “Do I understand the trade I am making?”Borrow what helps and leave the rest.Give someone you know a box of tenmentors https://tenmentors.com/

“Hate” is a word many of us used as kids. We blurted it out when we felt controlled, ignored, or blocked from what we wanted, and then an hour later we were fine. Relationship therapist Terrence Real calls the adult version of that flare “normal marital hatred”: not abuse, not contempt, not a sign you married the wrong person, but a temporary spike of anger that can surface when boundaries are crossed, independence is squeezed, hormones and stress are high, or resentment has been left to build. In this episode, we talk about why it happens, how to tell the difference between a passing flare and something more serious, and what to do in the moment so your relationship bends instead of breaks.

If you’re struggling to change your habits, you’re probably not the problem — your environment is. In this episode, we unpack a powerful truth: people imitate their atmosphere. From pub culture to phone scrolling, from what’s in your cupboards to who you spend your time with, your “system” quietly shapes what becomes normal. You’ll learn how to stop blaming yourself, spot the patterns around you, and start changing your habits by changing what surrounds you — one honest choice at a time.

What if happiness isn’t something you “feel on command,” but something you quietly build over time? In this episode, Caoimhe rethinks our whole idea of happiness — beyond positivity culture, comparison, and the pressure to always be okay.We explore meaning versus pleasure, the science of rhythm and movement, the Sardinian “Hi” effect, the power of warm relationships, and why purpose steadies us when life gets messy. A gentle conversation about joy, aliveness, and the small daily choices that make a life feel like your own.Check out our work https://tenmentors.com/ and how we are providing mentoring for those that get nonehttps://www.instagram.com/tenmentors

“Maybe I’m just unlikeable.” In this Ten Mentors episode, Caoimhe talks about that quiet fear so many of us carry — that people at work, in our families, or online don’t really like us. Through real mentee stories, the stadium metaphor, and ideas from The Courage to Be Disliked, you’ll learn why others’ reactions aren’t an X-ray of your worth, how to separate your task from theirs, and one small experiment to stop twisting yourself into knots just to be liked.

What if you stopped chasing perfection and focused on one promise instead: “I will honour my growth”? In this Ten Mentors episode, Caoimhe explores how tiny choices - a 20 minute workout, speaking once in a meeting, saying no when you are at capacity can reshape your future when you measure your days by growth, not performance.

Feel like you are doing good work but no one really sees you? In this Ten Mentors episode, Caoimhe shares what she learned from Jeffrey Pfeffer’s work on power, plus real stories from mentees, to show why humility without visibility becomes invisibility – and how to change that without becoming fake or loud. You will leave with three simple questions and one small, uncomfortable action to help you become more visible at work on your own terms.In this episode you’ll learn:• Why “just work hard and be humble” keeps you invisible• How power, networks, and informal influence really work at work• Practical, uncomfortable-but-doable ways to make yourself more visible

Real progress and growth isn’t a straight line. There have to be pauses — the plateaus, the storms, the messy human dips where nothing seems to move. In this Ten Mentors episode, we talk about why progress needs stillness, why frustration is part of learning, and why sometimes the bravest thing you can do is eat the chocolate and chill the flip out.

Every generation clings to it — the idea that if the right leader comes along, life will get better. But history is messy, slogans fade, and nobody’s coming to save you. So maybe the question isn’t about your country. Maybe it’s about you. This is an episode you don't want to miss.

History is full of blood spilled in the name of belief systems — from witch trials and slavery to propaganda and assassinations. At a time when we cannot afford history to repeat itself, C. Duggan reflects on how easily beliefs become cages, shares a personal journey of unlearning, and shows why values — not beliefs — are what truly shape character and growth.

We’ve all heard the phrase: “Live each day like it’s your last.” But is that really the path to meaning? In this episode of Ten Mentors, Caoimhe shares a different perspective shaped by personal loss and everyday life. Discover why self-improvement, ordinary routines, and small daily choices matter more than dramatic “last day” living — and how your future self will thank you for it.

What can a reclusive singer teach us about success? In this episode, discover how Enya’s silence, a failed business of mine, and the quiet work of people like Lewis Hamilton, Michael Phelps, and Katie Bouman reveal a powerful truth: real growth happens out of the spotlight.

What can a Netflix series about Formula 1 teach you about life, leadership, and resilience?A lot more than you'd think.In this episode of Ten Mentors, I dive into how Drive to Survive became one of my most surprising mentors — revealing powerful lessons about ego, pressure, reinvention, and the hidden politics of high-stakes environments.From ruthless team decisions and explosive crashes to ego-fueled sabotage and behind-the-scenes “bitchness,” the world of F1 is more than fast cars. It’s a masterclass in ambition, power, and human nature under fire.I also share my own connection — from watching the race in Singapore (mainly for the parties!) to discovering why some drivers make it with money… and others, like Lewis Hamilton, break through with boldness.If you've ever had to navigate high pressure, perform under scrutiny, or question your seat at the table — this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now and discover how a racing series taught me how to live with focus, humility, and drive.

Have you ever cried for someone you’ve never met?In this powerful episode, we explore the lasting legacy of Irish activist Vicky Phelan — a woman whose courage exposed a national health scandal, transformed policy, and inspired thousands to stand up for truth. Through her story, we reflect on grief, impact, and how the people we never meet can still shape our lives in profound ways.Host C. Duggan shares a deeply personal journey of learning from changemakers like Vicky Phelan, and Nelson Mandela, and invites listeners to consider what it truly means to leave a legacy.Whether you feel silenced, overlooked, or simply searching for purpose — this episode will remind you: your voice matters. And your actions today can ripple across generations.✨ Themes: Legacy, Courage, Social Justice, Vicky Phelan, Mentorship, Integrity, Activism, Speaking Up📚 Based on insights from The Book You Never Knew You Needed: 15 Principles to Master the Art of Living by C. Duggan.

What does a 99-year-old sushi master know about mastery that most of us miss? In this episode I share 10 powerful lessons from Jiro Ono — the quiet legend behind Jiro Dreams of Sushi — on craft focus and obsession and how they can shape your career your habits and your life.

You’re not lazy — you’re drifting.In this episode, we explore what happens when you stop living on autopilot and start honoring your future self in small, powerful ways.With Lina’s story, three practical mindset shifts, and a gentle challenge, you’ll walk away ready to make one choice today that your tomorrow-self will thank you for.

The way we speak to others—especially our children—shapes how they see themselves for years to come. In this episode, we explore how repeated comments can quietly become someone’s inner critic, why mothers are often harder on daughters, and how women internalize those voices into adulthood.It’s a gentle, honest reminder that our words matter more than we think. And that kindness, spoken out loud, can last a lifetime.

Sometimes, the most powerful mentors don’t speak — they sing.This is the story of how a song echoed through a football stadium and found its way into my life. A reflection on resilience, unity, and why “You’ll Never Walk Alone” still matters — especially this week.